Only 10% of C-suite leaders say their companies are ready for AI disruption, finds latest Adecco Group report

As companies invest in technology, a gap is emerging between the C-suite's ambitions for AI and workforce strategy readiness

• The Adecco Group's 2025 Business Leaders research surveyed 2,000 C-suite leaders across 13 countries and 17 industries to uncover their perspectives on the future of work.
• Global leaders rank workforce strategies that can't keep pace with disruption as the number one talent risk to business growth, and 53% of CEOs say their teams struggle to align on priorities.
• 60% of leaders expect employees to update their skills for AI, yet 34% of companies have no policy on its use.

Zurich, Switzerland, May 15, 2025: New global research released today from the Adecco Group (SIX: ADEN) reveals that most companies do not yet have a talent strategy to navigate the rapid transformation brought on by artificial intelligence. Despite more business leaders investing in AI, the survey revealed that only 10% of companies qualify as "future-ready," meaning they have structured plans to support workers, build skills, and lead through AI's disruption.

The 2025 Business Leaders report, 'Leading in the age of AI: Expectations versus reality', surveyed 2,000 C-suite leaders across 13 countries and 17 industries. Respondents identified the top three technological megatrends expected to shape business by 2030 as digital transformation, GenAI and AI. While leaders recognise the scale of the change ahead, companies are still missing robust plans to support their workforce, leaving employees to navigate AI use on their own.

"AI is moving faster than most companies can adapt, and employees need support to successfully navigate this transition," said Denis Machuel, CEO of the Adecco Group. "AI-driven transformation must be human-centric and demands a unified strategy. For organisations to stay competitive, leaders must align on a shared vision, starting with bridging the gap between talent and technology."

Key Findings:

• Companies expect workers to adapt without direction. 60% of leaders expect employees to update their skills for AI, yet 34% of companies have no policy for using AI at work. The majority of leaders aren't yet acting as role models either: only a third of leaders have themselves engaged with developing their own AI capabilities over the last 12 months.
• Leadership teams struggle to align. The majority of CEOs (53%) say their teams struggle to align on strategies in a timely way, and confidence in AI strategies has fallen 11 percentage points since 2024 (58% of leaders are confident in 2025 versus 69% in 2024).
• Data is the missing foundation for workforce strategy. Just 33% of companies are investing in data to understand and close skills gaps, despite technology and digital skills shortages being the top barrier to digital transformation in 2025.

A new cohort of "future-ready" companies is setting the standard

The report found that a small segment of organisations qualifying as "future-ready" is emerging and outperforming. Future-ready organisations are human-centric, tech-enabled, and prepared for disruption, based on a commitment to developing across four core criteria. The four dimensions are taking a structured and accountable approach to AI; facilitating adaptability and career mobility; committing to workforce skills development; and preparing leaders for a fast-changing future.
Among companies surveyed:

• 64% of future-ready organisations say their leadership team's use of AI is improving decision-making, compared to 49% of all companies.
• 71% are very confident in their company's AI implementation strategy compared to 58% of all companies.
• 65% are adopting skills-based workforce planning, moving away from rigid job structures, compared to 56% of all companies.

"The difference is the mindset," Machuel added. "Future-ready organisations aren't simply reacting to AI. Instead, these leaders are rethinking how their business works, how talent grows and how decisions are made. Investing in leadership development as part of a robust workforce strategy ensures that leaders can leverage the power of technology for true business impact and value creation."

The full Leading in the age of AI: Expectations versus reality report is available to download here.

For further information please contact:

The Adecco Group Press Office
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About The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world's leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).
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